On the afternoon of August 16, the first lecture for doctoral students in the 2023 Fine Traditional Chinese Culture (including Confucianism) program of the Joint Graduate School of Nisan World Center for Confucian Studies took place in Mengyuan, Zoucheng. Prof. Shu Dagang from Sichuan University gave a cultural speech entitled Historical Influence and Contemporary Value of Classicsto over 300 doctoral students.

Prof. Shu elaborated on the historical impactsand contemporary valuesof classicsfrom three perspectives: what classics are, their historical influences, andtheir contemporary values. Throughout his lecture, Prof. Shuintroducedthe evolutionand levels of classics, and expoundedon the contemporary valuesof the Confucian classics in terms of history, literature, philosophyand politics. He pointed out that classicsarethe root ofChinese history, the source ofChinese thought, and the soul of Chinesefaith.

This lecture opened up opportunities for students to pursue theirdoctoral studies, enlightening them with the historical influencesand contemporary valuesof Confucian classics. In the upcoming two weeks, over 300 doctoral students from 16 co-built universities and colleges in China will listen to the wonderful lectures brought by ten academic leaders, perceive Shandong culture, pay tribute to sages and historic sites, explore the land of etiquette, and findthe root of our national culture and civilization.